Fri - Mar 2/12

Another busy day. I watched "Price is Right" at 9 am while having breakfast. I made Charlotte "Breakfast in Bed" so she could watch a craft program on the bedroom TV at the same time. We left at 10 am as the traffic rush has died down.

Our first stop was at the Chase Bank in the plaza across from the park. I moved some money into our chequing account there to use on their VISA Debit card.

Our first stop was the Mesa Swap Meet. Today was not a full scale march past the 1600 vendors. We were on a mission to replenish our supply of  Whole Wheat Apple Cinammon and Cranberry Raisin Bread as well as Carrot Cake and "Sugar Free" Lemon and Blueberry Cake Slices. This has become a weekly ritual. We only did the rows needed to return to the RV. Charlotte looked for material at a few fabric stalls and I stopped at the "As Seen On TV" booth and picked up a wireless headset that has both an FM radio and a plug in sound transmitter to for sending sound from the TV.

We then went to COSTCO to fill up with gas. Their (members only) station was packed - 8 lanes all at least 6 cars deep. Prices at some stations here are at almost $4 per (U.S.) gallon (over $4 in California). I'm glad I always fill the RV just before arriving at the park. That saves at least $100 compared to having to waiting to fill-up when we leave. Wow! When the economy first tanked a few years back we filled in the RGV (Rio Grande Valley) in Texas at $1.36 a gallon. I will be at least $3.00 more a gallon than that when we leave. This is why a lot of folks are storing their RV down here until they return next year.

Time for lunch at an old favourite that we had not gone to so far this year - Golden Corral. This is our favourite buffet style restaurant. The "Senior" rate at lunch, with beverages, runs about $20 for two. I heard a few "oldsters" nearby saying they "...skipped breakfast and probably won't have room for supper". Being the end of the month cheques were in - the "retirees" were certainly well represented at the "Corral". Needless to say their new "Chocolate Fountain" was quite busy as many folks were coating the huge, fresh strawberries for dessert.
Charlotte picked up a few notions needed for her crafts at a Jo-Ann Fabrics stop on E. Main St. in Mesa, AZ. We continued west on Main to Camping World. I was not so lucky. They didn't have what I was looking for; however, their other branch just off US-60 showed stock on their computer. As rush hour was beginning I stayed off US-60 and got their using other main; but less crowded roads. They had what I needed. We then continued to avoid the rush on US-60 by taking Baseline Road most of the way back to the RV Park. Most of the eastbound home time rush on US-60 turns off at Ironwood Road leave a lighter flow of traffic into gold Canyon. Baseline ends before Gold Canyon so we have to get onto US-60 at the last limited access on ramp. This the only way we can get to the RV Park. The far east end of the 4 lane section of US-60 where it stops being "limited access" is Gold Canyon's Main Street. We are the first RV Park on the right in Gold Canyon (under the huge American Flag).

Charlotte did more quilting and I hooked up my new purchase - a 5 (Input) x 3 (Output) Video Switcher. Our present unit failed on the front TV switch. I had it serving both TV's by using a splitter; but it limited our options. The new unit works fine. I also hooked it up to transmit sound through the new Wireless Headset.

Not much that we like on Friday night TV. Often their is a dance - this week it will be on Saturday.

Our thoughts are with those currently suffering through the unusually early, numerous and severe tornadoes sweeping through the heartland and the south east that resulted in 16 deaths in 3 states earlier today.